Embryotome



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN H. SWAIN, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS.

EMBRYOTOME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,908, dated November 4, 1890. Application filed August 26, 1889. Serial No. 321,959. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN II. SWAIN, of the city of Decatur, county of Macon, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Embryotome, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is intended to effectuallymeet all requirements in the practice of embryotomy. It may be safely inserted, it is capable of cutting bone as well as tissue, and by its construction and mode of operation the fetus is made readily and completely accessible.

The device comprises a shaft somewhat extended and provided with a suitable handle, and cutting-edges on the other end of the shaft diverging uniformly and forming a V- shaped internal angle, with its axis in line with the longitudinal axis of the shaft. A cutter-holder is formed integral with the shaft, and the cutters-two in number-are detachable from the holder and separable, in order that they may be easily sharpened, and in order that, when desired, a cutter of one form may be substituted for a cutter in some respects different. A shield is attached in a manner to maintain its position during the insertion of the instrument and be readily detached after such insertion.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, Figurel is a side view of my device with the shield in position, the shaft being broken to bring the drawing within the limits of the paper. Fig. 2 is a view of one face of the device, with the shield attached. Fig. 3 is a View of the same face with the shield removed. Fig. 4 is a view of the opposite face of the operative end of the device. Fig. 5 is a view of the cutterholder. Fig. 6 is a View of two detached cutters, one having a probe end and the other a penetrating-point.

The shaft 1 has a suitable handle, as indicated in Fig. 1, and it is preferably made in two separate parts. The cutter-holder 2 is flattened, its sides diverge, its face is depressed to an extent equaling the thickness of the cutters, thereby forming shoulder 5 and ledges 3 3, and it has the threaded holes 4 4. Each cutter 7 has an inner edge that conforms to the longitudinal axis of the shaft and abuts against a corresponding edge of a fellow cutter. Its outer edge diverges in conformity with the holder, and its inner cutting-edge 8 is still more divergent. It has a shoulder 9, that abuts against a ledge 3 of the holder. It is beveled at 10 to conform to an undercut bevel or dovetail in the ledge. Its end abuts against shoulder 5, and it is secured in position by a screw 14, that extends through a hole 11. The holder is preferably provided ordinarily with cutters having probepoints; but, when desired, a cutter having a penetrating-point may be easily supplied.

The direction of the motion of the device when in operation is in line with the shaft- Force is exerted by pushing, and the cutters act obliquelyand in opposition to each other in such manner as to be very effective. The shield comprises the plate 15, having the lugs 16, that engage the sides of the cutters. The rod 17, coextensive with the shaft and having catches 18, is adapted to the handle and ring 19 or other termination, whereby it may be held in position'while the embryotome is illserted and withdrawn after such insertion.

The plate shields the cutters, the lugs prevent lateral displacement, and the catches 18 prevent longitudinal displacement, thereby making the shield reliable as a preventive of injury to the uterus.-

The cutters might be formed of a continuation of the shaft and be effective for a time; also, a blunt edge might be opposed to a cutting-edge with inferior results; but these are readily apparent modifications of my invention that I have not thought necessary to set forth in detail.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. An embryotome comprising shaft 1, holder 2 on an end of the shaft and having shoulder 5, the ledges 3 3, and the holes 4, cutters 7 7,having each a diverging edge 8,a hole 11, a shoulder 9, and a bevel portion 10, and screws 14 14, that secure the cutters in the holder, as set forth.

2. In combination, with the embryotoine, the shield comprising the plate, the lugs, and the rod, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

STEPHEN I-I. SWAIN.

Attest:

E. McCLELLAN, J. C. HOSTETLER. 

